Curtain stretcher



`may 12, 1925.. 1,537,754 M. J. DE GRAVE f CURTAIN STRETGHER Wzl/vannes:nl lare/z or l Ma/,e/( are Ms it vf/.rey

May l2, 1925.

M. J. DE GRAVE CURTAIN sTRE'rcHER .Filed Oct. 25, 1920 2 Sheets-SheetA 2fol' Patented May 12, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

MICHAEL J. DE GRAVE, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CURTAIN STRETCHER.

Application filed October 25, 1920. Serial No. 419,379.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, MICHAEL J DE GRAVE, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CurtainStretchers, of which the following is a specilisation.

My invention relates to curtain stretchers and it has for its principalobject the provision of a new and improved arrangement of parts by whichan eil'ective stretching operation can be carried out, which arrangementof parts is simple and not likely to be broken or disarranged in use.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangements of partshereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1 is a plan View of stretching apparatus; i n

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail view, being substantially a Vvertical crosssection taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view being substantially a section taken online 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is a side view of one end portion of one of the rollersemployed, showing a modified form of construction.

Fig. is a cross section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 1 but shown ininverted position illustrating the adjustable connection between two ofthe stretcher bars.

Fig. 6 is a 4top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of one of the adjustable curtain engagingpins.

Referring to the drawings, 10 and 11 in` dicate the side barsof a rigidframe, the end bars of which are indicated by the numerals 12 and 13.The frame bars are arranged in spaced relation with respect to eachother and are connected together at their end portions by means of bolts14 of any approved type. Diagonally disposed brace bars 15 are connectedbetween the end bars and one of the side bars as is shown in Fig. 1 forholding the frame rigidly against distortion.

A cross bar 16 is slidably mounted upon the frame, being held inposition upon the my improved frame by means of clips 17 which aremounted upon the cross bar and extend about the end bars 12 and 13 inthe manner illustrated in Fig., 5, in such relation that the cross bar16 is slidable laterally with respect to the rigid frame. A second crossbar 18 is slidably mounted upon the frame at right angles to the crossbar 16, being provided with a clip 19 mounted thereon andv extendingabout the side bar 10 so as to permit a sliding movement of the bar 18longitudinally of the frame. Each of the bars 10, 12, 16 and 18 isprovided with a dove-tailed groove 20 as is bestl shown in connectionwith the bar 12, in Fig. 5, the grooves 20 being such as to holdslidably in position therein a series of pin members 21, as is bestshown in Fig. 2. As will be readily understood, the pin members 21 areadapted to be slid along the bars to any desired position for holdingthe edge ofone or more curtains which are to be stretched in the wellknown manner. Means is provided for regulating the position of the crossbars 16 and 18 with respect to the bars 10 and 12 for accommodatingcurtains of different sizes, as is usual in devices of this type. v

The means for controlling the position of the slidably mounted bar 16comprising flexible tapes 22 which are connected at their ends to thebar 16 and which are connected at their other end portions to a roller23 which is revolubly mounted between brackets 24 carried by the framebar 11, the arrangement being such that the tapes are adapted to bewound about the roller as is best- 4shown in Fig. 2. VSpring devices 25are mounted upon the side bar 11 in position to bear yieldingly 'againstthe roll of tape at the endsof thevroller 23, as is best shown in Fig.2, the pressureof the spring devices 25 being such as to resist theunwinding of theV tapes 22 from the roller for preventing racing of theroller. The cross bar 18 likewise has connected to it two tapes 26 whichare'adapted to be rolled about a roller 27 revolubly mounted upon theend bar 13, spring devices 28 being provided for resisting the unwindingof .the tapes as above described. p

In addition to the friction-controlled means for regulating theunwinding of the tapes 22 and 26, positively'acting means is alsoprovided for limiting the unwinding operation. This means for each ofthe sets 'pawl is pivotally mounted.

of tapes comprises a ratchet wheel 29 mountedl upon the tape roller atone end and a double acting pawl 30 adjustably mounted adjacent to theratchet wheel in position to co-operate therewith. In the constructionshown, the pawl 30 is pivotally mounted between the bracket 24 and asmaller bracket 31 mounted adjacent thereto, as is best shown in Fig. 3.As is shown in said Fig. 8, the pawl 30I comprises a handle portion 32and two teeth 33 and 34 on opposite sides of the axis aboutA which the Aspring 35 is provided bearing against suitable portions of the pawl 30for holding it in either one of two alternative positions as shown inFig. 2, with the tooth 33 in engagement with the ratchet wheel as isshown in solid lines in Fig. 2 or with the tooth 3a in engagement withthe ratchet wheel as is shown in dotted lines. As will be readilyunderstood, when the pawl is in the position shown in solid lines inFig. 2, the roller 23 is held against rotary movement in the directionfor unwinding the tapes 22. On, the other hand', when the pawl is in theposition 4shown in dotted lines in said Fig. 2, the

roller is held against rotary motion in the direction for winding thetapes thereon.

. As will bereadi'lj,T understood, by connect ing thel tapesf'or each ofthe bars 16 and 18 with av single roller as is shown in Fig. l,

so vthat a rotary movement of the roller for unwinding the tapes servesto give out an equal length of tape at each end of the roller, theslidably mounted bar is prevented from assuming a diagonal position'with respect to the frame bars, the 'tapes and their co-operating partsacting as an equalizer or evener for maintaining the slidably mountedbars in shifting parallel positions. By the provision of the springdevices 25 and 28, in connection with the other tape controlling means,-I am enabled to regulate the positions of the slidably mounted bars tovery good advantage. By

the use of the pawl and ratchet mechanism,

vthe bars 16 andr18 are adapted to beheld positively against movementaway from the bars 11 and 13 respectively, and automatically held inparallel position with respect ,to such bars.

In Fig.- 4, which shows a modification, the same reference charactersare employed, in as much as the change consists merely in the mountingof the pawl and ratchet mech- .anism at the opposite end of one of thevrollers as compared with the showing of the remaining figures of thedrawing. As will be readily understood, the operation of the device yasyshown in Fig. Il is precisely the same as that already described.`

As is best shown in Fig. 7, the pin member 21v comprises an engagingpoint 36, a handle portion 37 and a rectangular base portion 38 by whichthe member is held in position, the form of the base 38 being such as toprevent the memberfrom becoming stuck in the groove 20.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect,.this is capable ofvariation and modification without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of the construction set forth, but desire to avail myself ot'such variations andV modifications as come within the scope of theappended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a curtain stretcher, the combination of a rigid frame havinglongitudinally extending grooves for the reception of a series of'curtain pins; cross bars slidably mounted on said frame substantially atright angles with respect to each other; brackets mounted adjacent theends of one of the side and end bars of said frame; rollers revolvablymounted on said brackets; flexible tapes connected to said cross barsand adapted to be wound on said rollers; a ratchet wheel mounted on theend of each of said rollers; and a spring held double acting pawladapted upon engagement with said ratchet wheel to alternately lock saidroller against winding Land unwinding operation, substantially asdescribed..

2. In a curtain stretcher, the combination of a rigid Jframe havinglongitudinally extending grooves for the reception of aseries of curtainpins; cross bars slidably mounted on said frame substantially at rightangles with respect to each other; brackets mounted adjacent the endsof' one of' the side and end bars of said frame; rollers revolvablymounted on said brackets; flexible tapes connected to said cross barsand adapted to be wound on said rollers; a ratchet wheel mounted on theend of each n of said rollers; a double acting pawl en-

